peace. love. summer.

I'm feeling very bittersweet today as we prepare to leave summer behind for the arrival of fall. (ICYMI: The first official day of fall is tomorrow, 9/23).  The funny thing is, I'm not even a fan of hot, humid 90-degree weather.  I prefer my days to be warm-ish + sunny with the possibility of an ice cream cone always on the horizon.

The thing that I love most about summer is the easy-going and free-spirited vibe that seems to accompany us from May through August (and some of September).  Oh, and the long nights when it doesn't get dark until around 9PM. Simply put: I equate summer with vacations (NYC over the beach any day), frozen treats (bomb pops, soft-serve ice cream and shaved ice), printed shorts + vibrant manis, endless nautical stripes, #navyornothing, July 4th (duh!), 7-Eleven Day, McAlister's Free Tea Day, carnival shenanigans and, most importantly, time spent outdoors soaking up the rays (while wearing SPF 100, of course).

While fall really isn't that bad — October is my birthday month after all and I will become accustomed to the chillier temps and added layers soon enough — I definitely find myself yearning more and more for summer as each year passes. In some ways, I guess you could say that it's become my favorite season.  In honor of the "official" end of of summer, I've put together a Steller story consisting of some of my favorite snapshots from the past few months.  Enjoy!

What will you most miss about summer?  Are you ready for fall?  Leave a comment below!

xo,
A

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nyc. recap. | pt. one.

If you've noticed a brief "pause" in new content lately, then that's because I've been on vacation. I just returned from spending five days in NYC and am slowly (but surely!) getting back into the swing of things. Instead of sharing everything in one massive recap, I've decided to split my NYC adventure up into several posts. First up, I'm highlighting some of my favorite snapshots from my trip — enjoy!

When you travel by Amtrak...

View from the New Museum. (FYI: On Thursday evenings, the admission is pay-what-you-wish.) 

My first time visiting Mimi Cheng's + my first time trying dumplings was a success! 

MoMA + Andy Warhol for UNIQLO Free Friday Nights.

The High Line.  A quiet oasis from the busy city.

The #NewWhitney designed by Renzo Piano.  Outdoor terraces, skyline views + contemporary art — yes, please! 

Morganstern's was worth the wait.  I tried the edible schoolyard mint chip w/ a monster cone.  Yum!

A quick #ootd snapshot.  Just trying to beat the heat... 

My favorite rooftop on the Upper East Side.

Goals: To spend every Sunday at the Met.

Two new favorites in one day: Burger Fi (hand-cut fries and strawberry lemonade) and Emack & Bolio's (grasshopper pie).  All I can say is ah-maz-ing.  Both of these were recommendations from Carly (aka the College Prepster) — she seriously knows all the best spots! 

If you're currently located in NYC for the summer or have upcoming travel plans to the Big Apple, you must pay the Plaza Food Hall a visit.  Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the Plaza seriously has everything!  I will definitely be going back after trying the most scrumptious waffle everrr courtesy of William Greenberg desserts.

Exploring in the New York Public Library. 

What are your favorite things to do in NYC?  Let me know in the comments below!

xo,
A

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five. for. friday.

Just in time for the weekend, I've rounded up five interesting/noteworthy/potentially random things that are currently on my radar.  I thoroughly enjoy how this whole "five for friday" series is going even if I only get around to posting an installment every few weeks.  Hopefully, you've been finding it at least somewhat insightful, too!  Here we go... 

All photographs featured above are courtesy of the corresponding websites as cited below.

1. Oh Joy! for Band-Aid (Oh Joy!) // Too.  Stinkin'.  Cute.  That's all I'm saying.  First I was obsessed with Cynthia Rowley's collaboration with Band-Aid way back when, and now I can't get enough of the Oh Joy! x Band-Aid collab.  In a nutshell, think really pretty colors + fun, whimsical designs.

2. Behind-the-Scenes Alexa Chung's July Cover Shoot (Harper's Bazaar UK) // Tell everyone you know, Alexa Chung is on the cover of Harper's Bazaar UK's July issue. I don't know about you, but I love A. Chung.  She's the ultimate cool-girl with a great sense of humor and an even more killer style to match.  That said, this behind-the-scenes video is a gem.

3. How to Design for Your Brand (Canva) // Whether you have a business or not, branding is super important.  It may sound crazy, but everyone has a personal brand (yes, including you!).  I, myself, shouldn't be talking as my brand (read: resume, online portfolio, this blog!) could use a facelift of sorts.  When going through my webmail, I stumbled upon a link to this branding resource that walks you through colors, fonts and all that jazz.  While a lot of the info is a refresher, it's still valuable to know when crafting your brand. (BTW, I actually find Canva Design School in general to be a helpful resource.)   

4. Burberry Prorsum Menswear Spring/Summer 2016 (Burberry) // I feel like I've professed my love for Burberry one too many times.  Well, here we go again... Normally I don't make it a point to watch the menswear runway shows, but after seeing so many snippets and previews on Instagram, I couldn't NOT watch it.  I'm so glad that I did, because as per usual, the clothes were tailored + undeniably British with hints of lace popping up everywhere.  Oh, and, Christopher Bailey enlisted Rhodes (an up-and-coming artist) to perform at the presentation alongside a live orchestra.  NBD.

5. These Sugar Cones Just Got a Major Upgrade (Cupcakes and Cashmere) // I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!  If you love ice cream (and sprinkles!) as much as I do, then you're going to get a kick out of these fancy sugar cones that you can decorate at home.  These just may give Ben & Jerry's a run for their money...

What piqued your interest this week? Feel free to share a link to your weekly roundup or leave a comment below!

xo,

A

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five. for. friday.

Another Fri-yay, another installment of "Five for Friday!"  Is it just me or is it hard to believe it's almost June?  And that the first day of summer isn't too far behind?  I can't even.  At this rate, I need to make my summer plans asap or it'll be all over before I know it.  Here's a snapshot of what's been on my radar this week!

All photographs featured above are courtesy of the corresponding websites as cited below.

1.  Empty Met (by Tim Kellner) // Stop what you're doing and watch this video — you won't be disappointed.  I literally got chills and proceeded to view all of Tim Kellner's short films (and you should, too).  As you might have guessed from the title, this beautifully + artfully done video captures an #emptymet during a private tour of the museum.
2.  Which New York Neighborhood Does Your Style Belong (Who What Wear) // Normally I'm not a fan of the random quizzes that pop up on social (especially the BuzzFeed kind), but this one by Who What Wear was actually kind of fun!  PS - I got Williamsburg the first go-around and SoHo the second.
3.  {A Chat With}: Daisy Chaussée (Stripes & Peonies) // If you're not already following Daisy Chaussée on Instagram then you're missing out.  Check out this interview on Stripes & Peonies for a glimpse into Daisy's c-o-l-o-r-f-u-l, well-curated feed and for some other fun tidbits along the way.  ALSO, Daisy was kind enough to share 6 Insta-tips for a better feed in a follow-up post. 

4. Watermelon Printable Ice Cream Cone Wrappers (Design Eat Repeat) // I scream for ice cream... and cute watermelon wrappers to match!  While the template isn't free, these watermelon wrappers are still definitely worth the download, especially for a watermelon themed party or even National Watermelon Day (mark your calendars for August 3rd!). 

5. The Brilliant Party-in-a-Box Service You Need to Know About (Brit + Co) // Yup, you heard right, you can now turn any occasion into a celebration thanks to Packed Party.  In a nutshell, these surprise party packages can be sent to your bestie, sister, you name it. I don't want to give away too much, but the "Birthday Beb" package is definitely may fave.

What piqued your interest this week? Feel free to share a link to your weekly roundup or leave a comment below!

xo,
A

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